Despite our recent successes, many challenges remain for gays

From a gay man in Pittsburg, writing Maureen Dowd of the NYTimes:

Ms Dowd, success is obviously a very relative thing. Gay men suffer the highest rate of both physical and property hate crimes in the country. In fact, hate crimes against gays are 5 times greater than for any other non-sexual minority group (Williams Institute Report, UCLA). We are all too familiar with the bullying of students perceived as gay and their sad and, sometimes, tragic results. 

As a 76 year old man, I cannot believe the progress we gays have made. This is, in large measure, due to the thousands upon thousands of men and women who decided to live their lives honestly and openly and the highly positive effect it has has on those who know them. But the race is far from over as seen this week in the uninformed, even ignorant, questions and remarks of those 5 on the court. Listening to the proceedings was like listening to street remarks of bigots 20 years ago. 

Last week I felt the same chill when listening to the conservative justices and our opponents' attorneys.